[San Jose, CA] —NeighborWorks America is proud to announce that Kevin Zwick, CEO of Housing Trust Silicon Valley in San Jose is one of 50 leaders selected for the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, conducted at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, made possible in part by generous support from sponsor the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, is an 18-month program that equips executives with the skills to advance their organizations’ performance. Each participant identifies and clearly defines a specific challenge critical to their organization’s success then spends the program addressing that challenge.

“I’m very honored to have been selected to take part in this program,” said Zwick. “The need for affordable housing has reached a crisis level in Silicon Valley, and it will require nonprofit organizations to build our capacity to take on transformational change. This program will help equip us to take on these challenges.”

Kevin has led Housing Trust Silicon Valley since October 2008, and previously worked as Director of Housing Development and Deputy Executive Director of Affordable Housing Associates. He has nearly 20 years of affordable housing experience. Kevin received a Master’s Degree in nonprofit administration (MNA) from the University of San Francisco, and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Sociology.

The only comprehensive training of its kind, Achieving Excellence includes three formal sessions at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, as well as executive coaching, intensive peer learning and guidance from author and consultant Douglas K. Smith. The first session at Harvard University will take place in August 2016, with additional sessions planned for February and September 2017 plus a graduation and final session together with program alumni. Between academic sessions, participants will actively work on a clearly-defined goal critical to their organization’s success and will be working closely with their executive coach and peer group.

“The Achieving Excellence Program equips leaders with the tools to build stronger organizations—more engaged and results-oriented staff and board members working to achieve even greater impact in their communities. This not only affects the organizations and communities but also results in a stronger pipeline of energized leaders throughout the nonprofit sector,” said Christina Deady, senior director of leadership and workforce development at NeighborWorks America

Achieving Excellence has graduated 325 executive directors, CEOs and other senior leaders since the program began in 2002, with astounding results from each class. Independent evaluations have shown tremendous results for organizations that have participated in this program.

In an impact evaluation of a recent class of the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, 72 percent created positive change in their communities, 77 percent raised staff performance and morale, and 100 percent improved organizational strength and results. .

The Housing Trust was formed by community and corporate leaders in 2000 with the goal of making Silicon Valley a more affordable place to live. It makes loans and grants to increase the supply of affordable housing, assists first-time homebuyers, prevents homelessness and stabilizes neighborhoods. Housing Trust Silicon Valley has invested over $100 million in affordable housing solutions to date and created more than 13,000 affordable housing opportunities. In 2015, Housing Trust Silicon Valley became the first nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the U.S. to earn a credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. It was awarded an AA- rating because of its strong capacity to meet financial commitments.

About NeighborWorks America
For more than 35 years, NeighborWorks America, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit, has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $27.2 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.